But the troops are deserting them. The faithful are no longer as willing as they were to obey the ancient Christian sex rules. They have shrugged off the power of their bishops and preachers.

Just like the rest of us they live together before they marry. They use the pill. They have abortions. They divorce. They remarry without annulment. They aren’t much troubled by their homosexual brothers and children. And most back equal marriage.

When Crosby Textor asked Australians in 2014 if they supported or opposed allowing same-sex couples to marry, they found support high across the faiths as well as Australia:

Total support: 72%.

Catholics: 67%.

Christians generally: 59%.

Anglican and Uniting: 57%.

__________________spruce: apart from the weird tuft of white hair she's still a beautiful person

I see there is a lot of intolerance that is happening in this chamber, the whole fact is, it is not taking into consideration those people who are marriage celebrants, who for whatever reason, whether it be religious or non-religious reasons, because they don’t wish to marry a couple, are going to be left themselves wide open, because you may be sued or for litigation.

I see there is a lot of intolerance that is happening in this chamber, the whole fact is, it is not taking into consideration those people who are marriage celebrants, who for whatever reason, whether it be religious or non-religious reasons, because they don’t wish to marry a couple, are going to be left themselves wide open, because you may be sued or for litigation.

The thing re celebrants is probably as dumb an argument as it was here - priests, clerics, ministers, preachers etc. have never had to marry anyone they didn't want to marry. They have never had to marry couples they thought unsuitable for any number of reasons, including such things as not members of that church or Catholic and divorced or not able to attend counselling sessions etc.

There has never been a case in Canada of a gay couple 'suing' or a cleric being 'forced' to marry anyone.

Likely helps that UCOC is the largest Protestant denom. here and they were marrying gay couples before it was even possible to do so legally, and have gay ministers as well, should you be so picky.